| Azlan Othman |
FROM the total of road accidents resulting in fatalities to date this year, it was found that four deaths were caused by either the driver or passenger failing to fasten their seatbelts during the mishaps.
These findings were made from preliminary reports of the accidents, visits to the accident sites, autopsies on the victims and analysis of damage suffered by the vehicles, as well as other related observations.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi highlighted this at a media press conference yesterday.
Dr Haji Supry added that the report and results from the visits revealed that drivers or passengers using seatbelts survived the accidents and only sustained injuries.
The Brunei National Road Safety Council (BNRSC) urged all drivers and passengers to use seatbelts when on the road, even for short journeys.
Citing empirical evidence to highlight the importance of seatbelts, Dr Haji Supry said, “World Health Organization (WHO) and New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) studies have shown that wearing seatbelts in an accident situation will increase the safety level up to 50 per cent for drivers and passengers at the front, and 75 per cent for rear passengers.”
“Road safety campaigns,” he added, “have been carried out before and will continue to be held. However, from our monitoring since the beginning of the year, it appears that there are still drivers or passengers who do not wear seatbelts. We need to take this issue seriously if we are to save lives and reduce the number of road accident mortalities.”
Meanwhile, Acting Director of the Traffic Control and Investigation Department (JSKLL) of the Royal Brunei Police Force Senior Superintendent Husaini bin Haji Matzain noted that 1,373 cases of drivers and passengers not fastening their seatbelts were recorded in 2017, while from January till July this year, 381 cases were registered.
Acting Director of Land Transport Pengiran Mohd Amirizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, also pointed out that from the Land Transport Department (JPD) Enforcement Division’s ‘On the Move’ operation, 22 drivers were compounded and given Drive Safety Practice Systemt (SiKAP) demerit points from April to July 2018.
He added that drivers failing to comply with the acts and regulations specially stipulated for not wearing seatbelts while driving will be handed compound fines and demerit points as follows:
For the first offence, a fine of BND150 and nine SiKAP demerit points will be imposed. For the second offence, a fine of BND300 and nine SiKAP demerit points will be imposed, and for new drivers, their licence will be revoked for one year.
For the third offence, the driver will be slapped with a fine of BND500 and nine SiKAP demerit points, and have their driving licence suspended for three months. For the fourth offence, the driver may be summoned to the courts and handed a greater fine.
Dr Haji Supry said it was imperative that the public understand the importance of fastening their seatbelts while on the road, not just to avoid being fined and demerit points, but more pertinently to safeguard their own lives during accidents and as a civic embrace of their responsibility in road safety.
“The best gift for your family is when you get home safely,” he said.